v. Obs. Forms: 1 be-, bigrafan, 4–6 bi-, by-, be-grave, (Sc. begraif). Pa. t. 5 begrove. Pa. pple. 6 begraven. [Comm. Teut.: OE. bi-, begrafan, cogn. w. OHG. bigraban, to bury, Goth. bigraban to dig a ditch round, mod.G. begraben; f. BE- + graban, in OE. grafan to dig.]
1. trans. To bury (a corpse, treasure, etc.).
a. 1000. Elene (Gr.), 835. Roda atsomne greote begrafene.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 98. At Winchester … that king bigrauen wes.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 197. They … have Her gold under the erth begrave.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, li. 122. They him begroven as he desired him-selve.
1528. Roy, Rede & be nott wrothe (Arb.), 45. His dedde coors rychly to begraue.
2. To engrave; to ornament with graved work.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 62. Every nayl with gold begrave.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 127. With great slighte Of werkmanship it was begrave.
